Topic 3 - Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What is organic chemistry?
Organic chemistry is the study of carbon (organic) compounds.
What are some key features of carbon that validify its presence in all organic compounds?
The ability of carbon to form so many compounds is unique among the elements. Carbon has a covalence shell consisting of four electrons. It may form single, double or triple bonds with other carbon atoms and form straight chains, branched chains or rings.
What are the three different types of structural formulae?
Extended structural formula, condensed structural formula, and skeletal structural formula.
What is systematic nomenclature?
Systematic nomenclature is the chemical system used to help identify the structure of a compound. The name given through this system provides information about carbon chain length, functional groups, and the positioning of functional groups.
What are the prefixes for carbon chain length?
1 - meth
2 - eth
3 - prop
4 - but
5 - pent
6 - hex
7 - hept
8 - oct
9 - non
10 - dec
What is the suffix used for carboxylic acids?
-oic acid
What is the suffix used for carboxylate ions?
-oate ion
What is the suffix used for esters?
-yl -oate
What is the suffix used for amines?
-amine
What is the suffix used for amides?
-amide
What is the suffix used for alkanes?
-e
What is the suffix used for alkenes?
-ene
What is the suffix used for alcohols?
-ol
What is the suffix used for aldehydes?
-al
What is the suffix used for ketones?
-one
What is a branching alkyl chain?
Anything carbon based that is attached to the longest carbon chain is considered a branching alkyl chain.
What are single carbon bonds called and what wording is used?
Alkanes: C-C
-ane-
What are double carbon bonds called and what wording is used?
Alkenes: C=C
-ene-
What are triple carbon bonds called and what wording is used?
Alkynes: C=-C
-yne-
What identifies an alcohol functional group?
-O-H
How do you name a molecule with multiple alcohol functional groups?
State the number location of both alcohols (after the overall molecule name) with the relevant prefix (di, tri, etc) and -ol.
EXAMPLE: butane-2,4,-diol
What is an isomer?
When molecules have the same molecular formula but with a different structure.
What does the degree of saturation refer to?
The number of hydrogens (number of single bonds between carbon atoms).
What does the degree of unsaturation refer to?
The number of double or triple bonds between carbon atoms.
What does degree of saturation/unsaturation mean for the melting points of molecules?
Molecules that contain only single bonds (saturated) can stack neatly, forming stronger dispersion forces between molecules. Therefore, saturated molecules will have higher melting/boiling points and are more likely to be solids at room temperature.
How are alcohols classified as primary, secondary or tertiary?
The primary, secondary or tertiary nature of alcohols refer to the number of carbon atoms which the carbon atom attached to the hydroxyl group is bonded to.
One = Primary
Two = Secondary
Three = Tertiary
How is the oxidation of alcohols used to distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols?
In organic chemistry, oxidation refers to the addition of or increase in the number of oxygens. Acidified dichromate is an oxidant which allows primary and secondary alcohols to be distinguished from tertiary alcohols, by changing colours. Primary and secondary alcohols can undergo oxidation, causing the acidified dichromate (orange) to be reduced to chromium ions (green). Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidised using acidified dichromate, meaning there is no colour change and the solution remains orange.
What happens when acidified dichromate is combined with a primary alcohol?
Colour change from orange to green.
What happens when acidified dichromate is combined with a secondary alcohol?
Colour change from orange to green.
What happens when acidified dichromate is combined with a tertiary alcohol?
No colour change from orange to orange.
Write an equation to show the reduction of acidified dichromate when combined with a primary or secondary alcohol, to produce the colour change from orange to green.
Cr2O7-2 + 14H+ + 6e- —> 2Cr+3 + 7H2O
What does the oxidation of a primary alcohol result in?
Primary Alcohol —> Aldehyde —> Carboxylic Acid
What does the oxidation of a secondary alcohol result in?
Secondary Alcohol —> Ketone
When does the oxidation of alcohols stop?
The oxidation of alcohol stops at the point where there are no more hydrogens to be liberated that provide oxidation (attach an oxygen).
What is a carbonyl group?
A carbonyl group is a double bond between a carbon atom and an oxygen atom (C=O).
What do aldehydes and ketones have in common?
Both contain a carbonyl group (C=O).
What functional group is present on an aldehyde?
A double bonded oxygen that is in the terminal position (at the end of the molecule).
What functional group is present on a ketone?
A double bonded oxygen that is present in the middle of the molecule.
How are aldehydes and ketones formed?
Aldehydes are formed from the oxidation of primary alcohols. Ketones are formed from the oxidation of secondary alcohols.
What happens during the oxidation of an aldehyde under acidic versus basic conditions?
The oxidation of an aldehyde under acidic conditions forms a carboxylic acid. Whereas, the oxidation of an aldehyde under alkaline (basic) conditions forms a the carboxylate ion (deprotonated carboxylic acid/salt of a carboxylic acid).
What are the experiments used to oxidise aldehydes in acidic versus basic conditions?
Acidified dichromate can oxidise aldehydes into carboxylic acids under acidic conditions. Tollen’s reagent can oxidise aldehydes into carboxylate ions under basic conditions.
How do you differentiate between aldehydes and ketones?
Structurally, aldehydes contain their double bonded oxygen (C=O) in the terminal position whereas ketones contain it within the chain. Tollen’s reagent with an aldehyde forms silver deposition, whereas ketones will not form silver.
What are carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are naturally occurring sugars and their polymers.
What is the general formula used for all carbohydrates?
CxH2yOy
What is a simple sugar unit composed of?
A simple sugar unit contains either a ketone or aldehyde functional group, as well as multiple hydroxyl groups.
Refer to as polyhydroxyaldehydes or polyhydroxyketones.
What is glucose classified as and why?
Glucose is a polyhydroxyaldehyde because it contains an aldehyde within its structure and follows the general carbohydrate formula.
What is fructose classified as and why?
Fructose is a polyhydroxyketone because it contains a ketone within its structure and follows the general carbohydrate formula.
What can carbohydrates become due to their functional groups?
Due to the functional groups within carbohydrates, they pose the ability to polymerise (form polymers).
What are monosaccharides?
Single unit carbohydrates.
What are disaccharides?
Two carbohydrates conjoined.
What are polysaccharides?
Polymers of repeating carbohydrate units.
How do you identify repeating carbohydrate units?
The oxygen that is single bonded to two carbons, separating two carbohydrates, can be used to distinguish the repeating unit for saccharides.
What are the two forms that saccharides can exist in?
Cyclic (ring) or linear (chain) form.
For monosaccharides, how does cyclic form influence its reaction abilities.
In cyclic form, the molecule does not have the aldehyde or ketone. This means it will not react with Tollen’s reagent.
Why are monosaccharides solid at room temperature?
Monosaccharides are solid at room temperature due to the large amounts of hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl groups. This means a substantial amount of energy would be required to disrupt these bonds, such as heat, justifying its structure of solid at room temperature.
How are disaccharides formed?
A condensation reaction (producing water) between two cyclic monosaccharides, which removes a hydroxyl group from one and a hydrogen atom from the other to allow them to be joined by bonding through an oxygen atom.
How are disaccharides broken down?
A hydrolysis reaction (consuming water) of a disaccharide to split it into two monosaccharides. Water is combined and joins a hydroxyl group to one and adds a hydrogen to the oxygen on the other, to form a hydroxyl group.
How are polysaccharides formed?
Polysaccharides are formed by condensation reactions of many monosaccharides catalysed enzymatically.
How are polysaccharides broken down?
Polysaccharides can be broken down into mono, di and trisaccharides by hydrolysis with water and an enzyme.
How is the repeating unit of a polysaccharide identified?
The repeating unit of a polysaccharide can be identified the same way as the repeating monomer of a polymer:
- It has to be “copied and pasted” immediately down the chain
- The repeating unit (monomer) is shown using brackets
- The structural formula of the monomer can be drawn from the repeating unit by identifying the two bonds that are hydrolysed
What is the general equation for the hydrolysis of a polysaccharide?
(CxH2yOy)n + nH2O —> nCxH(2y+2n)O(y+n)
Are monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides soluble in water?
Monosaccharides are most soluble in water as their molecular weight is smaller, meaning there are less dispersion forces between the molecules (despite having more functional groups per unit). Disaccharides also tend to be soluble in water, due to weak dispersion forces between molecules. However polysaccharides are not usually soluble in water as the dispersion forces between molecules are significant.
What property of carbon enables its widespread presence in organic compounds?
Carbon has a covalence of four meaning it may form single, double or triple bonds with other carbon atoms, as well as form straight straight chains, branched chains or rings.
What are the characteristics of monosaccharides and disaccharides that enable their solubility in water?
- Many polar hydroxyl groups (-OH) that can undergo extensive hydrogen bonding with polar water molecules
- Small molecule = weaker secondary (dispersion) forces, therefore easily separated in water